Uninsured? 4 Frugal Healthcare Tips to Follow

Healthcare can cost you money just for co-pays and deductibles, but it’s much more expensive when you’re uninsured. Even though your best bet is to sign up for some form of health insurance, it’s still important to get the care you need for medical issues no matter what. If you’re dealing with health problems but you don’t have an insurance policy right now, here are four tips for keeping your medical bills to a minimum.

Choose Urgent Care Instead of the Emergency Room

Which type of facility you choose obviously depends on your condition, and if it’s a true emergency, you should always go to the emergency room (ER). But for less severe problems, an urgent care like Calverthealth or someone similar is the better choice because the cost is far more reasonable. There are also urgent cares available specifically for people who have low incomes. Check out the urgent care options in your area and you may find one with affordable rates for basic services.

Search for Financial Assistance Programs

You may find financial assistance programs available through the local, state or federal government, and it’s worthwhile to perform a search online to see what programs could be available for you. Although these programs may not be available for standard healthcare services, they can come in handy when you’re dealing with a large bill for a major procedure.

Haggle Whenever You Can

What many people don’t realize is that you can often haggle down healthcare costs and pay significantly less than what your original bill was for. Keep in mind that if you don’t pay, the healthcare facility needs to send the bill to collections and get pennies on the dollar for it. This gives them an incentive to work for you if you propose a lower settlement amount.

Pay Less for Your Prescriptions

Prescriptions can cost just as much as going to the doctor, and they’re especially hard on your wallet when you need to stay on a prescription long term. Ask to get the generic version of your prescription whenever possible, and if it’s a medication you’re going to need for months, see if you can get a 90-day supply instead of just 30 days’ worth.

When you know a few tricks, you can make your healthcare much more affordable. Give the tips above a try to immediately reduce your healthcare spending.